This blog is for those who suffer from Alzheimer's Disease,
FTD and forms of dementia, caregivers, friends and medical professionals that want to share their feelings, thoughts, encouragement, vent and open how they cope with this disease. I was diagnosed in 2004 with the early stages, and quite frankly it scared the beegeebees out of me. 2007 PET SCAN confirmed all.
Joe

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Joe, thanks so much for inviting me to post. This time I will introduce you and Lynn to my world. Later I will write other posts, including positive comments about your book and what I am learning as a caregiver.

I am a 66 year old caregiver for my 73 year old husband who has Mixed Dementia as you do. The difference is he has Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's whereas you have Frontal Dementia and Alzheimer's. I will call him DH, hubby or husband here. DH stands for "Dear Husband". Before I got more information, I vascinated between having my head in the sand or being depressed. I may get depressed from time to time, but I can never have my head in the sand as you see the airstream RVs in this picture I took from a poster yesterday at a RV dealer. We drive by this Tampa area scene often .

A year and a half ago when hubby needed to retire due to his memory issues, someone came by our home and asked to buy our first popup camper. DH said yes and I was so sad when they carted it off for $900. However this month we bought a used popup camper from our friends "Sally and Jake" (not their real name)--for $50 and so you know we have been fixing it up--having new tires put on, etc.. It is almost finished. I saved about $3000 by patching the canvas myself. Our total cost so far is about $600 and it has many more features inside than our first popup had. We have several camping trips planned with Sally and Jake. Sally and Jake had upgraded to a small RV.

Jake, who also has Alzheimer's, and DH love to tell each other the same stories over and over. Monday the four of us celebrated Valentines Day by going to a pizza place. We talked about camping for the most part. When DH and Jake need us full-time, either Sally or myself will stay home with the husbands while the other one works (we both substitute teach and I teach classes for DUI offenders periodically). This was Sally's brilliant suggestion.

Meanwhile we enjoy every day. I am very patient with hubby when he repeatedly asks the same questions over and over. Once I was a widow and I love having a hubby who asks me repeatedly how my day was. We love each other very much. Jake and DH have their heads in the sand about their impairment, but Sally and I are very proactive. I am going to a workshop on Alzheimer's on Thursday and taking notes for Sally.

Lynn, My patience was wearing thin at the end of the day. I think sundowners time is when this happens often. DH was mad at me because I didn't tell him the time I would be home--wouldn't speak civily on the phone when I called him on my way home. Then when I got home he apologized to me because he had written in down, but forgot that. We went to Toastmasters tonight and then when we came home he was obsessed with something else. I ended telling him that I was really down before, perked up at Toastmasters and then got down again. I am doing the best I can and tonight it wasn't enough for DH. DH is frustrated with himself at times and takes it out on me, his wife.

CAROL!!!! I love it,, This is the laugh I needed this morning. I am a caregiver in a facility.. MY residents wives need to hear this. I love the two or four of you have found such a special bond!!!! It is going to be a fun journey for you all.

Welcome to Living With Alzhiemer's

We welcome you to our world where Alheimer's is taking its' toll. But we work together, the entire family, we love and share while the time is still there. Somedays are difficult and scary but the road is filled with Love & Kindness and God's help, who could ask for more. Hope you visit us often and you can email: jolynn1@cox.net, with thoughts, comments, questions and we will offer any help we can.

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This blog does not accept any payment for the listing of links to other sites nor do we accept or endorse any products, including those advertised on linked sites. This blog is simply my journey with the disease of Alzheimer's and Frontal Temporal Lobe Dementia. We pay tribute in memory to those that have past from this deadly disease.